BurmaNet News: October 11, 2001

______________ THE BURMANET NEWS ______________
An on-line newspaper covering Burma
October 11, 2001 Issue # 1897
______________ www.burmanet.org _______________
INSIDE BURMA _______
*BBC: Burma slowly comes in from the cold
*DVB: Junta reported closely monitoring activities of Muslims
*Irrawaddy online: Muslims Kept Under Watchful Eye
*Chin Human Rights Organization: Racially selective settlement and
relocation being implemented in Kalay-Tamu Area
*Chin Human Rights Organization: Only Burmese Names In School
MONEY _______
*Asian Week: No more underwear from Burma
*Asian Week: Or Pots
*Chin Human Rights Organization: SPDC monopolizes farming management
*Narinjara News: Burmese Army monopoly in Rakhine State makes life
difficult Cox's Bazaar
*Mizzima: Burma's cows being smuggled across the borders
REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL _______
*Kyodo: Coast guard arrests 12 for allegedly trying smuggle selves
*Mizzima: WLB concluded its Presidium Meeting
EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA________
*Resolutions Adopted by the 169th Session of the Inter-parliamentary
Union on Burma
The New light of Myanmar (SPDC): Results to be derived from friendship
between the two countries
OTHER______
*PD Burma: Calendar of events
*Oak Human Rights Fellowship Fall 2002
__________________ INSIDE BURMA ____________________
BBC: Burma slowly comes in from the cold
Wednesday, 10 October, 2001, 10:48 GMT 11:48 UK
By regional analyst Larry Jagan in Bangkok
The international community is seriously considering abandoning its
decade-long policy of isolating Burma.
Many western countries have adopted sanctions against Burma because of
its poor human rights record and the military's failure to respect the
1990 election results.
In those elections the opposition National League for Democracy, led by
Aung San Suu Kyi, won convincingly, but was never allowed to take power.
But for the past year, the military authorities have been talking to the
opposition leader and released nearly 200 political prisoners as a
good-will gesture.
Five opposition members were released on Tuesday.
Key change
The European Union now faces the problem many western countries are
grappling with at the moment. How can the international community
encourage the dialogue process between Burma's military government and
the opposition without giving the generals an excuse to drag their feet?
In a typical EU decision it has decided to relax its policy towards
Burma, while maintaining sanctions - at least for the next six months.
The European Council of Ministers meeting in Luxembourg earlier this
week, renewed its sanctions against Burma but commended the junta for
the progress that was being made towards political reform.
The EU believes that by renewing the strict sanctions against the
military regime adopted nearly five years ago, they are keeping up the
pressure on Rangoon. They have done this every six months since 1996.
But this time there was a significant difference. In the statement
released after the meeting, EU foreign ministers said they were
encouraged by the dialogue process and expected further positive
developments to emerge.
They hinted they would be prepared to remove the sanctions - or some of
them - if there was significant change in Burma, and would do this
immediately rather than wait till the current six-month period elapsed.
Thawing
But it was the supplementary measures they adopted which they hoped
would send the concrete message to Rangoon.
The EU has increased its contribution to the UN's Joint Plan of Action
programme to combat the spread of Aids in Burma by a further $2.2m (five
million euros). They have also said that individual European countries
would consider adding to this in due course.
The programme hopes to raise at least $20m from individual European
countries, a source
in the Commission told the BBC.
The EU also agreed to allow Burma to be included in the International
Monetary Fund's programme for heavily indebted countries and to join the
international hydrographic organisation.
They are also allowing Burma to participate in future EU-Asean meetings
in Europe. For more than three years they have not met because the EU
objected to Burma's participation and the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations insisted on its attendance.
And finally the EU has suggested to Burma that it would send another EU
troika to Burma later this year, to assess the political progress being
made in the country and explain the EU's new position on Burma to the
generals.
Foreign aid
On the face of it, these new measures seem like a token gesture, but in
reality, reflect a major policy shift within the EU. The decision comes
just after Australia agreed to resume limited aid programmes for child
welfare.
Western countries now believe that by engaging Burma they have a better
chance of influencing the generals than by continuing to isolate them.
The EU, in its statement, says it had consulted the NLD before deciding
to shift its position on sanctions. In fact the UK sent one of its most
senior diplomats to Rangoon several months ago to sound out Aung San Suu
Kyi as part of their policy review.
It is quite clear that the NLD is also reviewing its attitude to foreign
aid to Burma even while the junta remains in power. The generals know
that if the dialogue process is to continue to progress they will have
to make concessions.
The NLD spokesman U Lwin told the BBC the NLD leaders were considering
allowing the international community to offer the Burmese military
government limited humanitarian assistance - for areas like child
welfare, combating Aids, and education.
EU officials told the BBC that they wanted to encourage the dialogue
process and would do this by not being prescriptive or issuing threats.
They said the EU would continue to make concessions in terms of aid and
lifting sanctions against Burma, in keeping with changes in Burma.
But they could just easily be re-imposed, they said, if the process
falters.
___________________________________________________
DVB: Junta reported closely monitoring activities of Muslims
Text of report by Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) on 9 October
DVB has learned that the SPDC authorities have been watching the
activities of the Muslims more closely than before due to rising
tensions in the region after the terrorist attacks in New York and
Washington.
Last month, an Islamic missionary team led by U Hla Min, a Burmese
Muslim from the Islamic mission of Bassein Township in Irrawaddy
Division, went on a tour of mosques in Rangoon and Mandalay Divisions
and Shan State with approval from the Religious Ministry. The team
arrived in Nawnghkio on 25 September and met with U Zaw Myo Thein,
another Burmese Muslim.
Then, on 29 September a 12-member Islamic missionary team led by U Hla
Min and U Zaw Myo Thein arrived at Taunggyi. The team then proceeded to
Panglong where they were warned by the SPDC Military Intelligence
personnel for speaking about non-religion related matters at Panglong
mosque. The team led by U Hla Min next made preparations to continue
their journey to Mong Kung.
The Military Intelligence personnel and Panglong Township authorities
then explained the current world situation to the team, persuaded them
not to continue their journey, and urged them to return to their own
townships.
Later, they were all sent back to their respective townships with
arrangements provided by the SPDC authorities. Military Intelligence has
issued a directive to state, division, and township General
Administration Department officials not to permit any Islamic mission
team to go on missionary trips and to closely monitor the activities of
the Muslims in the respective regions.
Moreover, the Religious Ministry has also issued a notification warning
the responsible people from the Islamic faith not to teach Muslim
fundamentalist ideas, not to allow the gathering of people for
non-religious activities at the mosques, and the respective religious
organization will be held responsible for any consequence.
Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 9 Oct 01
___________________________________________________
Irrawaddy online: Muslims Kept Under Watchful Eye
By Maung Maung Oo
October 10, 2001? Muslims living in Burma have seen their movements
restricted and communities watched by the government since the September
11 attack on the US, according to a Burmese Muslim living in Rangoon.
A source in Kawthaung, in southern Burma, told The Irrawaddy that last
week a Muslim man was pulled off a plane in Kawthaung without reason
that was bound for Rangoon and had has ticket canceled. Airport
authorities in Kawthaung refused to comment on whether Muslims are
currently permitted to board planes in Burma.
"Thousands of Muslims live in Kawthaung and many have connections with
Muslims living in Malaysia. The government is concerned about reprisals
from Muslim extremist groups in the region," said a security guard
working at Kawthaung?s airport.
A Muslim man in Rangoon vehemently denied that Islamic terrorists
operate in Burma despite reports indicating that they do.
Police officers have formed additional checkpoints on highways
throughout the country and have been asking detailed questions as to
where Muslims are traveling and why. Burmese citizens must carry state
issued identification cards that indicate their religion.
Two or more police officers have also been stationed at Mosques
throughout the country and plain clothed officers have been attending
Muslim religious gatherings as well, according to sources in Rangoon.
In Rangoon, the government tightened security around the US Embassy as
well as other western embassies and yesterday the US embassy in Rangoon
closed for security reasons.
___________________________________________________
Chin Human Rights Organization: Racially selective settlement and
relocation being implemented in Kalay-Tamu Area
CHRO: October 8, 2001
The State peace and Development Council in Sagaing division have
established three new villages between Kalay and Tamu town since March
2001. In the new three villages, only Burmese Buddhists are allowed to
settle, although the surrounding areas have been co-inhabited by ethnic
Chin and Shan-Bama decent.
The names of the three villages are Yanmyo-Aung, Yantaing-Aung, and
Yanngein-Aung. The meaning of the villages name literally translates
?conquest of the enemy?. These names are reported to have been dubbed
based on superstitious astronomical readings consulted by SPDC.
The area is mostly inhabited by Chin and Shan-bamas and there are many
virgin lands and forest in the surrounding areas. The inhabitants in the
area are prohibited to extend their farm or plough the virgin land. Only
the Burmese Buddhists are allowed to settle in the new villages.
The SPDC persuades (Burman) people from Minkin township of Magwe
division to settle in the new villages saying that they will be
sufficiently provided with whatever they need.
Since January 2001, the SPDC authority strictly collects or seizes goods
and commodities, such as rice, cooking oil, bicycles, medicines and farm
animals from traders and villagers. The goods they seized were provided
to the new settlers from the three villages.
According to U Than Aung (name changed), 60 years old Burmese farmer
from Tamu township, all the nearby villages have been working in the new
three villages since March 2001 till today. The villagers have to build
school, houses, digging the well, cutting wood and ploughing in the farm
for the new settlers.
( Date of interview with U Than Aung, 21 August 2001 )
___________________________________________________
Chin Human Rights Organization: Only Burmese Names In School
CHRO: October 9, 2001
Young Chin students in the plain area, outside of Chin state, are
reportedly forced to change their Chin name into the Burmese ones.
In many Chin inhabited areas in the plain area of Burma the population
of Chins and Burmese are balanced in most part of Kalay and Tamu
township, Sagaing division and Kangaw township of Magwe division. Chins
and Burmese children go to the same school where most of the teachers
are Burmese.
Chin children are told by their Burmese teachers that Chin name is
difficult to call or pronounce. They feel uncomfortable with their Chin
name among the Burmese teachers who are usually annoyed by their names.
In many occasions, Chin children are forced to take the Burmese name.
Thus, Chin parents are in discomfort with the situation because every
Chin name have its own meaning and definition, which reflects the
characteristic of their ancestor. They feel like they are being
assimilated by the Burmese knowingly.
______________________MONEY________________________
Asian Week: No more underwear from Burma
[BurmaNet adds--Asian Week is an online magazine for the Asian American
community in the United States and is not related to Asiaweek magazine
published by Time Warner]
>From www.asianweek.com:
Labor Round-Up
By Suzanne Lee
Sara Lee, a top seller of intimate apparel in the United States with
nearly $17.5 billion dollars in annual revenues and owners of Hanes,
Hanes Her Way, Leggs, and Just My Size brands has ceased allowing
production of its garments in Burma.
?Sara Lee is a model for what we would like to see from corporations.
Their response was swift and honest,? Jeremy Woodrum, Washington DC
director of the Free Burma Coalition (FBC), said.
FBC found Hanes Her Way and Hanes University clothing made in Burma in
Ames department stores and posted the information on the FBC Web site.
In a letter to FBC dated August 31, 2001 Sara Lee Vice President and
Chief Counsel Melvin L. Ortner wrote, ?We want the Free Burma Coalition
to know that production in Burma violates both our Global Operating
Principles and our Supplier Selection Guidelines... two of our licensees
did use Burma facilities in direct violation of their contract with
us... We have taken immediate steps with both licensees to confirm that
neither will make our product in Burma again.?
A coalition of U.S.-based non-governmental organizations and labor
unions, including the FBC, Global Exchange, Rainforest Action Network,
and Lawyer?s Committee for Human Rights, have called on U.S.
corporations to stop importing from Burma. This comes in response to
evidence from the International Labor Organization that the country?s
military regime is responsible for horrific human rights abuses,
including ?a modern form of slave labor.? Sara Lee?s move follows a
string of recent decisions by U.S. corporations against Burma?s military
regime from using profits from the garment industry to perpetuate
abuses. The U.S. State Department, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty
International all condemn the regime?s human rights record.
?Sara Lee?s Hanes licensees were caught with their pants down, and we
commend Sara Lee for ending its support for Burma?s military regime by
stopping its licensees from producing Sara Lee products in Burma,?
Woodrum said.
___________________________________________________
Asian Week: Or Pots
Pottery Barn, a home furnishings store owned by San Francisco-based
company, William Sonoma, has also broken off all business ties with the
country of Burma. ?Because of the human rights situation in Burma, it is
a priority for [Pottery Barn] to make sure that our international
activities adhere to our corporate values,? Tracy Brown, director of
public relations for Pottery Barn, said.
A coalition of U.S.-based consumer organizations, labor unions, and
human rights groups became concerned about ties to Burma?s regime after
the National Labor Committee (NLC) obtained shipping data showing
Williams Sonoma imported items worth $321,548 from Burma last year. FBC
members subsequently found items from Burma for sale in Pottery Barn
stores in Washington D.C. and had planned a nation-wide day of protest
in front of Pottery Barn stores in six different U.S. cities, including
San Francisco?s Castro location.
Two letters to the FBC explained that Pottery Barn has removed products
made in Burma from its store shelves, catalogue, and on-line store, and
that the company has adopted a policy against placing any new orders
from the country. The letter also read that the company continues to
produce a line of products called ?The Martaban Collection? so named for
a major gulf off of Burma in the Andaman Sea, but that all items are
non-Myanmar-made products.
?Companies like Williams Sonoma are beginning to realize that doing
business in Burma helps perpetuate forced labor and misery,? said
Charles Kernaghan of the NLC. ?Fortunately, Williams Sonoma is saying
?no? to the military dictatorship of Burma.?
Williams Sonoma is the twentieth company to end business with Burma
during the past fourteen months on account of human rights abuses,
joining other retailers such as Wal-Mart, Costco, TJ Maxx, Fila, IKEA,
and Perry Ellis.
However, many companies continue to import from Burma or allow goods
from Burma to be sold in their stores, including Ames and Macy?s.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate whose
political party won Burma?s 1990 democratic election and were later
annulled by the ruling military regime, has called for companies to stay
away from Burma until ?rule of law and basic democratic institutions?
are in place.
?We need to go after the retailers and investors such as UNOCOL that
help to prop up the dictatorship in Burma,? said Shannon Wolfe of Global
Exchange.
___________________________________________________
Chin Human Rights Organization: SPDC monopolizes farming management
The State Peace and Development Council in Kangaw township have forced
farmers to buy paddy seeds, corn seeds and bio-fertilizer with high
price saying that the paddy seeds which they sell can produce 300 tins
of rice in one acre area of land and that all the farmers should buy and
sow them in their farm.
Thus, all the farmers bought the paddy seeds from the authority with a
high price, 1,800 Kyats ( Kyat is Burmese currency ) per tin and corn
seeds with 80 Kyats per one pyi (one pyi is about 4 kgs ) and a bottle
of bio-fertilizer for 800 Kyats.
But when they actually grow the paddy seeds they bought from the SPDC
authority, it produced only 60 tins per acre according to U Tha Lu, 50
years old Burmese farmer from Hanthawadi village of Magwe division. The
authorities buy back the rice from farmers with the rate of 350 Kyats
per tin.
"It is totally unjust. When they sell us, we paid 1,800 Kyats per tin
and they want to buy back from us with the price of 350 Kyats per tin"
said U Tha Lu.
The SPDC authority started this method in the year 2000 and they knew
that it is damaging the farmers. But when the monsoon, farming season in
Burma, come in June authority repeated what they did to the farmer last
year.
( CHRO interview U Tha Lu on 19 August 2001 )
___________________________________________________
Narinjara News: Burmese Army monopoly in Rakhine State makes life
difficult Cox's Bazaar
Oct 11
: The monopoly on trade and commerce by the Burmese Army in Rakhine
State, western part of Burma, has made the life of the general
population very difficult, according to a political leader who recently
crossed into Bangladesh. With the beginning of this year's monsoon, the
Burmese Army personnel in variuous places across Rakhine State started
collecting fruits, rattan, cane, wood, bamboo and other agricultural
produce at a throwaway price arbitrarily fixed by the military personnel
themselves.
At Pohribraung in Ponnagyun Township, the army has opened a stockpile of
Anyan-thee fruit, paying seven kyats to the hundred and selling the same
at one hundred and fifty to two hundred in Yangoon. The trade of black
pepper, a produce of Pohribraung and Yotoyoke, Ponnagyun, is also being
monopolized beginning this year by the military. In Minbra Township,
LIB [light infantry battalion] 541,and 381, seized more than one
thousand acre of rice paddy in 1998 and started shrimp farm; in Pauktaw
Township, LIB 344 confiscated Ngapri island in September 1998, rendering
hundreds of villagers homeless; in Ponnagyun, LIB 555 seized the
tributaries to the Yochaung river, for shrimp cultivation, closing down
waterways for riverine traffic.
The Rakhine villagers have lost their waterways traditionally handed
down since time immemorial. Wholesale shrimp cultivation in Rakhine
State has also threatened the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
According to the political leader, the trade in shrimp, rice, peanuts,
timber and motorboats, and small mills are all monopolized by the
military, making the life of the people of Rakhine State very difficult.
The money earned this way is used to support the families of the
military since the Burmese Military Regime cannot pay the soldiers
enough to keep body and soul together.
___________________________________________________
Mizzima: Burma's cows being smuggled across the borders
Burma's cows being smuggled across the borders
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
Oct. 10: The cross-border business of Burma's cows being smuggled into
neighboring countries has been growing in recent years. As a result the
price of cows in the country has increased, and draught cows are
becoming relatively rare in Burma whose economy relies on agriculture.
According to cow traders, Burma's cows are being smuggled from the
border areas of Rakhine State, Chin State, Shan State, Kaya State, Kayin
State and Tanintharyi Division in Burma not only to neighboring
countries such as India, Bangladesh and Thailand but also to far away
countries like Malaysia.
In Rakhine State, cows are smuggled by boats to Bangladesh through the
townships of Yen Bye and Kyauk Phyu. Cows from central Burma are
smuggled across the Indian border via Mindat township of Chin State.
Similarly, through Loikaw of Kaya State, cows are being smuggled daily
into Mae Hong Son, Mae Sariang in Thailand and from Shan State in Burma
to the border of Chiang Rai district in Thailand. Smuggling of cows also
takes place between Kyaik Hto Township in Mon State to the Thai border
via Phar Pun Township. The smuggling routes from the Tanintharyi
Division of Burma to Thailand are the Moe Taung - Pa Kyut border route,
Kaw Thaung-Seit Phu-Kalapuri-Dawei-Nat Ai-taung route. Moreover, Burma's
cows and goats are being transported by boats up to Malaysia.
Sources in the border areas estimate that between three hundred and one
thousand cows are being smuggled across these borders from Burma each
day. As a result, the price of cows inside Burma increased. The price of
two draught cows (cattle of an age fit to be used as a beast of burden)
is at present above one lakh of Kyat (Burmese currency) while it used to
be about eight thousand Kyat last year. Some pair-cattle fetch up to two
lakhs.
However, two draught cows are sold at a price of more than six lakhs if
smuggled across the border, according to a cow trader. Cow smugglers
pay bribes and "tax" to various police, army, intelligence units, and
"cease-fire" groups (armed ethnic groups which have cease fire
agreements with the junta) on their ways to border. "Sometimes, we need
to give only 300 Kyats per cattle to a Gate and there are also Gates
where we have to pay up to five thousand Kyats per cattle", said a
trader.
As there is much profit in the business for smugglers, more and more
people become involved in it. On the other hand, as cows are still
widely used in the country's farms, Burma is facing a scarcity of cows,
and prices are going up.
___________________ REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL___________________
Kyodo: Coast guard arrests 12 for allegedly trying smuggle selves
Kobe, 9 October: The Japan Coast Guard on Tuesday (9 October) arrested
12 men who said they are from Myanmar (Burma) on suspicion of attempting
to smuggle themselves into Japan aboard a freighter that arrived in
Kobe, coast guard officials said.
The coast guard also arrested three Malaysian crew members of the
39,582-ton Bunga Raya Satu on suspicion of abetting the smuggling
attempt.
Around 0930 (local time), customs officials found the men hiding in the
Malaysian-registered ship and reported the discovery to the coast guard.
The ship left Pusan in South Korea on Sunday and arrived in Kobe shortly
after 0800 Tuesday.
The coast guard said the 12 may have boarded the ship in Pusan.
___________________________________________________
Mizzima: WLB concluded its Presidium Meeting
WLB concluded its Presidium Meeting
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
Chiang Mai, Oct. 10: The Women?s League of Burma (WLB), an umbrella of
Burma's women organizations in exile, ended its Presidium Board meeting
yesterday in Thailand. All the presidents of its member organizations,
members of WLB Secretary and regional responsible persons attended the
meeting, which was held from October 7 to 9 at Chiang Mai in Thailand.
This is the second meeting of the WLB's Presidium Board members.
According to the WLB sources, during the three-day deliberations, the
women leaders discussed the various matters including assessment of the
activities implemented by the women league during the past eight months,
the present political situation in Burma and the role of WLB and
organizational matters such as new membership requests and the detailing
for future activities.
Women's League of Burma, which was formed in December 1999 in a
Thai-Burma border area, organizes of workshops and trainings to promote
knowledge and skills of Burma's women activists in exile and works
together with the country's pro-democracy and ethnic organizations to
achieve peace and national reconciliation in the military-rule Burma and
to maximize the use of the ability of women in the national
tasks.Moreover, it joins together with regional and international women
organizations on common issues and participates at United Nations forums
and other international meetings.
At present it has eleven women organizations including the country's
ethnic women organizations based in border areas and cities of Thailand,
India and Bangladesh. The women league holds its Presidium Board
meeting, which is composed with the Presidents of the member
organizations, every eight months and its general conference is held
every two years.
Mizzima News has learnt that leaders of the WLB will soon travel to
India, Thailand and Bangladesh in an organizational trip to meet Burma's
pro-democracy and ethnic activists based in these countries.
___________EDITORIALS/OPINION/PROPAGANDA__________
Resolutions Adopted by the 169th Session of the Inter-parliamentary
Union on Burma
(Ouagadougou, 14 September 2001)
[Abridged]
The Inter-Parliamentary Council,
Referring to the resolution it adopted at its 168th session (April 2001)
on the case of the above-mentioned members-elect of the Pyithu Hluttaw
(People's Assembly) of the Union of Myanmar, and to the related report
of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians,
Recalling that the Parliament elected on 27 May 1990 has to date been
prevented from convening, the military regime instead setting up a
National Convention, which lacks any legitimacy, to draft a new
Constitution; the National League for Democracy (NLD), which won 392 of
the 485 seats, has been systematically impeded in its functioning and
the MPs-elect eliminated from the political process, including by
arresting and detaining them and sentencing them under laws infringing
basic international human rights standards,
Recalling also that the NLD, together with other parties, set up the
Committee Representing the People's Parliament (CRPP) in an effort to
implement the election results; that the Committee has not, however,
been recognised by the military regime,
Noting that talks are under way between the military regime and Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi, the NLD leader, and that since then 11 MPs have reportedly
been released from prison and 35 from "guesthouses"; however, according
to the sources, there is no guarantee that those released will not be
re-arrested at any time,
Noting that, for want of official data and reliable first-hand
information, figures on the exact number of MPs detained or imprisoned
vary,
Recalls in this regard that on 23 March 2001 the Deputy Permanent
Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations Office at Geneva
undertook to provide information on the current situation of each of the
MPs-elect,
1. Regrets that no official information on the current situation of the
MPs-elect has been forthcoming, which makes it extremely difficult to
assess their situation;
2. Notes that encouraging signs of a political thaw in Myanmar have been
reported since the beginning of this year and that MPs-elect are said to
have been released, and wishes to receive official confirmation of this;
3. Reiterates its firm belief that restoration of the rule of law
requires the immediate and unconditional release of all the detained
MPs-elect, the removal of the ban on political activities and the
establishment of institutions representative of the people's will;
4. Again calls upon all members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to take
whatever measures they deem appropriate to press for the respect of
democratic principles in Myanmar and to show their solidarity with their
elected colleagues from the Pyithu Hluttaw, in particular by supporting
the "Committee Representing the People's Parliament" and by making
appropriate Myanmar-related policy recommendations to their governments,
such as discouraging trade with or tourism to Myanmar; invites once
again member Parliaments to inform it of any steps they may take to that
end;
5. Remains convinced that an on-site mission would enable the Committee
to make progress, particularly in the light of the ongoing dialogue
between the regime and the NLD, and expresses once again the hope that
the authorities will favourably consider its request to conduct such a
mission;
6. Requests the Secretary General to bring this resolution to the
attention of the authorities of Myanmar and the sources;
Requests the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians to
continue examining this case and report to it at its next session (March
2002).
___________________________________________________
The New light of Myanmar (SPDC): Results to be derived from friendship
between the two countries
Thursday, 11 October, 2001
Results to be derived from friendship between the two countries
The Union of Myanmar has always been striving to promote friendship as
well as economic and trade cooperation with its neighbours and ASEAN
countries.
During the goodwill visit of Thai Prime Minister Dr Thaksin Shinawatra
to Myanmar, the Thai Prime Minister met with Head of State Senior
General Than Shwe and had friendly discussions on matters relating to
promotion of friendship and economic and trade cooperation between the
two countries.
Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of
Myanmar Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt paid a goodwill official visit to Thailand
from q to S September 2001 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Defence of Thailand General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.
The Secretary-l was granted audience by His Majesty King Bhumibol
Adulyadej of Thailand at the Royal Palace in Huahin. The Secretary-l
also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister of Thailand Dr Thaksin
Shinawatra at the Government House. Secretary-l Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt also
met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Thailand
General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and had discussions. Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Thailand Dr Surakiart Sathirathai called on Secretary-l
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt at Indonesia Hall of the Shangri-la Hotel. At the
meeting, they reaffirmed the determination to promote friendship and
further enhance cooperation for mutual benefits.
It is, in fact, the reaffirmation of the decision to turn the common
border between the two countries into one of friendship and harmony, as
mentioned in the Joint Statement issued on 21 June 2001 regarding the
official goodwill visit of Thai Prime Minister Dr Thaksin Shinawatra to
Myanmar.
At the discussions during the goodwill visit, both sides held frank and
cordial discussions on finding ways to cooperate more closely in trade,
fishery, health, drugs eradication, tourism and labour sectors. As
regards the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding for
control of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor
chemicals, agreement was reached to promote cooperation between the
organizations of both countries and to exchange information.
As regards the products of opium-substitute crops cultivation programme,
Thailand has agreed to grant "generalised system of preference" within
the framework of ASEAN Integration Programme. Agreement was reached to
endeavour for the emergence of transportation network development
project between the two countries with a view to enhancing trade and
economic development as well as contacts and dealings among the peoples
of both countries and the peoples in the Mekong sub-region.
As a result of the goodwill visits of the leaders of both countries, the
work programmes for promoting economic and trade cooperation between the
two countries are being implemented with momentum.
State Peace and Development Council Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt,
during his recent tour of eastern Shan State, arrived Tachilek. Thai
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Surakiart Sathirathai and Thai Minister
of Transport and Communication Mr Wan Muhammad Noor Matha and party paid
a courtesy call on the Secretary-1 at the Golden Triangle Hotel in
Tachilek on 7 October 2001. They cordially discussed promoting
cooperation and friendly relation between the two countries, cooperation
in education, health, culture, trade, tourism industry and narcotic
drugs eradication sectors and construction of another friendship bridge
in Tachilek to link Myanmar and Thailand.
Afterwards, Secretary- 1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Thai Minister of Foreign
Affairs Dr Surakiart Sathirathai and Thai M1nister of Transport and
Communication Mr Wan Muhammad Noor Matha inspected the site chosen on
Tachikek bank for construction of No 2 Friendship Bridge to link
Tachilek of Myanmar and Maesai of Thailand
Then, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, together with the two Thai
Ministers went to Maesai and viewed the site where No 2 Friendship
Bridge will be built.
Due to the friendship between the two countries, the No 2 Friendship
Bridge to link Tachilek with Maesai will now be built. It is believed
that with the construction of the No 2 Friendship Bridge, trade and
commerical undertakings between the two countries will surely become
easier and more convenient and tourism, economic and trade cooperation
between the two nations will further be enhanced.
Author : Tekkatho Tin Kha
______________________OTHER______________________
PD Burma: Calendar of events
October 11, 2001
a.. September : 56th UN General
Assembly. For more information: www.un.org/ga/56
b.. O ctober 9-20th : UN Special Rapporteur
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro to visit Burma
c.. October 11th : Hearing in the
European Parliament on Corporate Social Responsibility. For more
information, contact
Lola Almudevar e-mail: rhowitt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
d.. October : Review of EU Common
Position on Burma
e.. October 27-29th : the Fifth Annual Working
Conference of the Free Burma Coalition, American University in
Washington,
DC. For more information: http://www.freeburmacoalition.or
f.. December 1st : Worlds Aids Day
g.. December 8th : World wide celebration
for the Nobel Peace Prize for Aung San Suu Kyi
h.. January 14th 2002 : 26th Session of CEDAW, New
York. For more info: www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/committ
i.. February 2002 : The fourth Bangladesh,
India, Burma, Sri Lanka and Thailand-Economic Cooperation (BIMST- EC)
meeting, Colombo
j.. February 12th 2002 : National Union Day in Burma
(Official)
k.. March 4-15th 2002 : 46th Session of CSW, New
York, : www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw
l.. March 8th 2002 : International Women Day
m.. March 13th 2002 : Burma Human Rights Day
(Unofficial)
n.. March 17-23rd 2002 : 107th Conference of the IPU,
Morocco
o.. March/April 2002 : Commission on Human
Rights, Geneva
p.. March 27th 2002 : Resistance Day in Burma
q.. May 27th 2002 : Anniversary of the 1990
election
r.. June 19th 2002 : Aung San Suu Kyi's
birthday and Burmese Women's Day
s.. July 2002 : ASEAN Ministerial
Meeting (AMM)
t.. July 2002 : ASEAN Regional
Forum (ARF)
u.. August 8th 2002 : Anniversary of the
8-8-88 uprising
v.. September 18th 2002 : Anniversary of SLORC Coup,
1988
w.. September 2002 : United Nations, General
Assembly, New York
x.. October 2002 : Inter-Parliamentary
Conference
y.. December 10th 2002 : World Human Rights Day
___________________________________________________
Oak Human Rights Fellowship Fall 2002
The Oak Institute for the Study of International Human Rights is
soliciting nominations and applications for the Oak Human Rights
Fellowship for the Fall of 2002. The Oak Institute is located at Colby
College, a small liberal arts college in Waterville, Maine.
Every fall semester, the Oak Institute honors a significant
practitioner in international human rights by awarding a semester-long
(September -
December) fellowship as a scholar/activist-in-residence at Colby
College. This provides the Fellow time for reflection, research, and
writing. Following the period of the award, it is expected that the
Fellow will return to her or his human rights work. For the Fall of
2002, the Oak Institute seeks a practitioner in the field of refugees
and displaced populations in Asia or Africa. Possible areas of interest
include (but are not limited to): internal or international
displacement due to war or civil conflicts, development projects, or
forced relocations; women and children refugees; economic and political
rights; religious or cultural forms of persecution; asylum,
repatriation, or third country resettlement, among others. While all
human rights practitioners are eligible, we especially encourage
applications from those who are currently or were recently involved in
"on-the-ground" work at some level of personal risk.
The Oak Fellow's responsibilities include some collaborative teaching
with members of the Colby Faculty, ongoing meetings with student
discussion groups, and assistance in shaping a lecture series
associated with the Fellow's area of expertise. The Fellow is also
expected to participate in the intellectual life of the campus to
enable our students to work and study with a professional in the
field.
The fellow will receive a stipend and College fringe benefits (approx.
$30,000) plus round-trip transportation from the Fellow's home site,
housing for a family, use of a car, and some meals on campus. The
Fellow will also receive research support, including office space,
secretarial support, computer and library facilities, and a student
research assistant.
Nominations (including self-nominations) for the 2002 Oak Fellow
should be sent to the Director, Professor Mary Beth Mills, or the
Associate Director, Eliza Denoeux, Oak Institute, Lunder House, Colby
College, Waterville, Maine 04901 (fax: 207-872-3752/3474; e-mail:
oakhr@xxxxxxxxx ; phone 207-872-3813). Completed applications must
arrive no later than January 15, 2002. More information - including
application forms - is available on the Institute's Web site at
http://www.colby.edu/oak .
Final selection will be announced by April 30, 2002.
________________
The BurmaNet News is an Internet newspaper providing comprehensive
coverage of news and opinion on Burma (Myanmar) from around the world.
If you see something on Burma, you can bring it to our attention by
emailing it to strider@xxxxxxxxxxxx
To automatically subscribe to Burma's only free daily newspaper in
English, send an email to:
burmanet-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To subscribe to The BurmaNet News in Burmese, send an email to:
burmanetburmese-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
You can also contact BurmaNet by fax:
(US) +1(413)604-9008
________________
Burma News Summaries available by email or the web
There are three Burma news digest services available via either email or
the web.
Burma News Update
Frequency: Biweekly
Availability: By fax or the web.
Viewable online at
http://www.burmaproject.org/burmanewsupdate/index.html
Cost: Free
Published by: Open Society Institute, Burma Project
The Burma Courier
Frequency: Weekly
Availability: E-mail, fax or post. To subscribe or unsubscribe by email
celsus@xxxxxxxxxxx
Viewable on line at: http://www.egroups.com/group/BurmaCourier
Cost: Free
Note: News sources are cited at the beginning of an article.
Interpretive comments and background
details are often added.
Burma Today
Frequency: Weekly
Availability: E-mail
Viewable online at http://www.worldviewrights.org/pdburma/today.html
To subscribe, write to pdburma@xxxxxxxxx
Cost: Free
Published by: PD Burma (The International Network of Political Leaders
Promoting Democracy in Burma)
________________
==^================================================================
EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://igc.topica.com/u/?b1dbSX.b1CGhI
Or send an email To: burmanet-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
This email was sent to: reg.burma@xxxxxxxxxx
T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register
==^================================================================